Activation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Enzymes catalyze essential chemical reactions needed for living processes. (Na+ +K+)-ATPase (NKA) is one of the key enzymes that control intracellular ion homeostasis and regulate cardiac function. Little is known about activation of NKA and its biological impact. Here we show that native activity of NKA is markedly elevated when protein-protein interaction occurs at the extracellular DVEDSYGQQWTYEQR (D-R) region in the alpha-subunit of the enzyme. The apparent catalytic turnover of NKA is approximately twice as fast as the controls for both ouabain-resistant and ouabain-sensitive enzymes. Activation of NKA not only markedly protects enzyme function against denaturing, but also directly affects cellular activities by regulating intracellular Ca2+ transients and inducing a positive inotropic effect in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. Immunofluorescent labeling indicates that the D-R region of NKA is not a conventional digitalis-binding site. Our findings uncover a novel activation site of NKA that is capable of promoting the catalytic function of the enzyme and establish a new concept that activating of NKA mediates cardiac contraction.     

Low-affinity Na+ sites on (Na+ +K+)-ATPase modulate inhibition of Na+-ATPase activity by vanadate

Na+-ATPase activity is extremely sensitive to inhibition by vanadate at low Na+ concentrations where Na+ occupies only high-affinity activation sites. Na+ occupies low-affinity activation sites to reverse inhibition of Na+-ATPase and (Na+, K+)-ATPase activities by vanadate. This effect of Na+ is competitive with respect to both vanadate and Mg2+. The apparent affinity of the enzyme for vanadate is markedly increased by K+. The principal effect of K+ may be to displace Na+ from the low-affinity sites at which it activates Na+-ATPase activity.     

Increase in dissociation rate constants of cardiotonic steroid-brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase complexes by reduction of the unsaturated lactone.

Several cardiotonic steroids have been modified by reduction of the unsaturated lactone and their interactions with the sodium- and potassium-activated ATPase ((Na+ + K+)-ATPase) have been investigated. Reduction of the unsaturated lactone results in a decrease in binding affinity due primarily to an increase in the dissociation rate constant concomitant with a decrease in the activation free energy of dissociation. This decrease in activation free energy is about 2 to 4 kcal, which is approximately equal to the energy of one hydrogen bond. It is suggested that the increase in dissociation rate due to reduction of the unsaturated lactone may make possible the use of these compounds as affinity ligands for purification of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase or an ouabain-binding fragment.     

Comparative temperature dependence of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

The temperature dependence of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was measured, utilizing preparations of enzyme from heat and kidney of rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, ground squirrels, turtles, chickens, and ducks. The two hibernating species, hamsters and ground squirrels, were studied awake at normothermia and hibernating at 4 degrees C. The results for every species except the turtles showed the same temperature dependence established for (Na++K+)-ATPase from rabbit kidney with a quasi-linear dependence above 15 degrees C and little or no activity below 15 degrees C. Turtle enzymes showed a broad activity versus temperature curve with a fall-off at high and low temperatures. The data in all cases, including the turtle data, may be fitted by a previously described thermodynamic kinetic model. Further, the model will fith the turnover or decrease in enzyme activity at higher temperatures observed in a number of cases. These results do not support the widely imputed ion pumping role for (Na++K+)-ATPase.     

Inhibitory action of phosphatidylinositol on synaptosomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity

Phosphatidylinositol and several other phospholipids were tested for their ability to influence the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity of the cortical synaptic membrane from rats at various levels of free Ca2+. Phosphatidylinositol, but not phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine nor phosphatidylserine, markedly inhibited this enzyme activity, when the free Ca2+ concentration in the incubation media was less than 2.5 X 10(-6) M. This result suggests that phosphatidylinositol may play a role in the depolarization and/or the release of neurotransmitters or intracellular substances in the brain.     

Potassium binding to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

The number of K+ bound to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase has been measured under equilibrium conditions by a differential-titration technique (Hastings, D.F. (1977) Anal. Biochem. 83, 416-432). 5.1 K+ were bound per 32P-labelling site. The K'D for K+ was dependent on the concentration of choline, which was included to give ionic strength. K'D was 59 +/- 2.5 microM with 97 mM choline, 26 +/-1.9 microM with 30 mM choline. The K+ : choline selectivity was 2564 : 1 and the calculated K'D for K+ with zero choline was 11 microM and for choline with zero K+ was 28 mM. 20 microM ATP in the presence of 97 mM choline incresed the K'D for potassium 3-fold to 177 +/- 14 microM. The K'D for K+ with 3 mM Na+ in the presence of 27 mM choline was 81 +/- 10 microM and with 30 mM Na+ without choline 700 +/- 250 microM. The calculated K'D for Na+ at zero K+ and zero choline was 0.6 +/- 0.2 mM. The K+ : Na+ selectivity was 54 : 1.     

Crystallization patterns of membrane-bound (Na+ +K+)-ATPase

Extensive formation of two-dimensional crystals of the proteins of the pure membrane-bound (Na+ +K+)-ATPase is induced during prolonged incubation with vanadate and magnesium. Some membrane crystals are formed in medium containing magnesium and phosphate. Computer-averaged images of the two-dimensional crystals show that the unit cell in vanadate-induced crystals contains a protomeric alpha beta-unit of the enzyme protein. In phosphate-induced crystals an (alpha beta) 2-unit occupies one unit cell suggesting the interactions between alpha beta-units can be of importance in the function of the Na+, K+ pump.     

Crystallization patterns of membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Extensive formation of two-dimensional crystals of the proteins of the pure membrane-bound $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ is induced during prolonged incubation with vanadate and magnesium. Some membrane crystals are formed in medium containing magnesium and phosphate. Computer-averaged images of the two-dimensional crystals show that the unit cell in vanadate-induced crystals contains a protomeric αβ-unit of the enzyme protein. In phosphate-induced crystals an $\text{(αβ)}{}_2\text{-}\text{unit}$ occupies one unit cell suggesting that interactions between αβ-units can be of importance in the function of the Na⁺, K⁺ pump.     

Estimation of ouabain specifically bound to dog renal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in vivo.

Suspensions of viable renal cortical cells hydrolyzed a synthetic ester substrate (alpha-N-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester, Tos-Arg-OMe) and generated kinins from a kininogen substrate. This kallikrein-like esterase activity increased linearly with cell number, or time of exposure to substrate. No radiolabelled substrate or product was found within the cells. Most of the activity appeared to be on cell surfaces as supernatant media had less than 20% of the Tos-Arg-OMe esterase activity on the cell suspensions. Cell surface Tos-Arg-OMe esterase activity was inhibited by aprotinin, benzamidine, pentamidine, and a tris-amidine derivative (alpha,alpha',alpha'-tris(3-amidinophenoxy)mesitylene). Preincubation of cells with phospholipase A2 increased renal cell surface esterase activity up to 76% while only slightly increasing supernatant activity. In contrast, preincubation with deoxycholate caused clearing of suspensions and a marked increase in supernatant esterase activity. Renal cell kininogenase (EC 3.4.21.8) activity was inhibited by preincubation with aprotinin, the tris-amidine derivative, or anti-rat urinary kallikrein antibody. Kallikrein elaborated by renal cells formed a single precipitin line with an antibody to rat urinary kallikrein but the two enzymes were not immunologically identical. We conclude that kallikrein's active sites are facing the external environment of renal cortical cells in suspension with access to substrates, inhibitors, and antibody.     

The effect of bilayer thickness on the activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

The activities of purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase supported by a series of phosphatidylcholines with monounsaturated (cis-9) fatty acyl chains (di(n : 1) phosphatidylcholine) varying in length from n = 12 to n = 23 were determined by the lipid titration technique. The ATPase activity at 20 degrees C decreased from 2.9 to 0.1 mumol/min per mg protein as n was decreased from 16 to 12 and decreased from 2.9 to 1.0 mumol/min per mg protein as n was increased from 20 to 23. In further experiments, the di(n : 1) phosphatidylcholine-ATPase complexes were treated with increasing proportions of n-decane, which has been shown previously to increase the thickness of black lipid membranes. n-Decane caused a large increase (greater than 20-fold) in activity of the short-chain complexes (n = 12,13); for n = 14--18, the ATPase activity first increased and subsequently decreased as the proportion of decane was increased, and for n = 20 or 23 decane caused a progressive decrease in activity with increasing concentration. These effects confirm qualitatively that a major factor determining the activity in each bilayer is its thickness. This behaviour closely parallels that of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum [1] and suggests that a major class of trans-membrane transport proteins may have a similar dependence on bilayer thickness.     

Lack of immunological cross reactivity between the transport enzymes (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and (K+ + H+)-ATPase

Goat antisera against (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and its isolated subunits and against (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase have been prepared in order to test for immune cross-reactivity between the two enzymes, whose catalytic subunits show great chemical similarity. None of the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase antisera cross-reacted with (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase or inhibited its enzyme activity. The same was true for the (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase antiserum with regard to (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and its subunits and its enzyme activity. So not withstanding the chemical similarity of their subunits, there is no immunological cross-reactivity between these two plasma membrane ATPases.Number LIII in the series Studies on (Na⁺ + K⁺)-Activated ATPase.     

Regulation of rat brain (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity by cyclic AMP

The interaction between the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase and the adenylate cyclase enzyme systems was examined. Cyclic AMP, but not 5'-AMP, cyclic GMP or 5'-GMP, could inhibit the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme present in crude rat brain plasma membranes. On the other hand, the cyclic AMP inhibition could not be observed with purified preparations of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme. Rat brain synaptosomal membranes were prepared and treated with either NaCl or cyclic AMP plus NaCl as described by Corbin, J., Sugden, P., Lincoln, T. and Keely, S. ((1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 3854-3861). This resulted in the dissociation and removal of the catalytic subunit of a membrane-bound cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The decrease in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was accompanied by an increase in (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity. Exposure of synaptosomal membranes containing the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme to a specific cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor resulted in an increase in (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme activity. Synaptosomal membranes lacking the catalytic subunit of the cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase did not show this effect. Reconstitution of the solubilized membrane-bound cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, in the presence of a neuronal membrane substrate protein for the activated protein kinase, with a purified preparation of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase, resulted in a decrease in overall (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity in the presence of cyclic AMP. Reconstitution of the protein kinase alone or the substrate protein alone, with the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase has no effect on (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity in the absence or presence of cyclic AMP. Preliminary experiments indicate that, when the activated protein kinase and the substrate protein were reconstituted with the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme, there appeared to be a decrease in the Na+-dependent phosphorylation of the Na+-ATPase enzyme, while the K+-dependent dephosphorylation of the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase was unaffected.     

Variations in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activity of the ground squirrel brain during hibernation.

1. The specific activity of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and Mg2+ -ATPase of the ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii) is significantly increased after long-term hibernation. 2. The markedly non-linear thermal dependence of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is unchanged during hibernation whereas the near linear thermal dependence of Mg2+-ATPase undergoes minor alteration after prolonged hibernation. 3. The sensitivity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase to inhibition by ouabain is significantly decreased after 100 days of hibernation as is both the rate and amount of [3H]-ouabain binding. 4. These changes may be related to alteration in the phospholipid matrix of the membrane rather than alteration in the protein structure of the enzyme.     

Effect of arecoline on synaptosomal K+-phosphatase and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

Synaptosomal fractions and synaptosomal membranes from rat brain tissue were prepared and characterized enzymatically. Arecoline increased both the activity of K+-phosphatase in incubated synaptosomal fractions and the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity of synaptosomal membranes by 40% and 78%, respectively. This activation of ion transport processes is believed to be associated with increased ACh synthesis produced by arecoline.     

The steady-state kinetic mechanism of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from ox brain. II. Kinetic characterization of phosphointermediates

(1) The kinetics of the phosphorylated enzymic intermediates of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from ox brain, which are formed by incubation of the enzyme with 25 microM AT32P, 150 mM Na+ and 1 mM Mg2+, have been studied in dephosphorylation experiments at 1 degree C. The dephosphorylation of the 32P-labelled enzyme was initiated by addition of either 1 mM unlabelled ATP, 2.5 mM ADP or 1 mM unlabelled ATP + ADP in concentrations from 25 to 1000 microM. (2) In the absence of ADP the dephosphorylation curve was linear in a semilogarithmic plot almost from t = 0, whereas by addition of ADP a biphasic behaviour was obtained. The slope of the slow phase of dephosphorylation was virtually independent of the ADP concentration. (3) The results were analysed by the mathematical equation corresponding to the simplest possible model for the interconversion and breakdown of the phosphointermediates: (formula: see text) where alpha, beta, H and G are functions of all the rate constants and H and G furthermore are functions of the initial values for [E1P] and [E2P]. (4) The analysis confirmed the model and enabled the determination of all the rate constants. (5) k-1 was found to be equal to k'-1 + k"-1 . [ADP] indicating an ADP-independent 'spontaneous' dephosphorylation of E1P. The rate constant for this process was close to that for dephosphorylation of E2P, i.e., k'-1 congruent to k3. Also the value of k"-1 was determined. (6) k3 was found to be at least 10 . k-2. The implication of this for the role of the E1P to E2P transition in the Na+ + K+)-stimulated ATP hydrolysis will be discussed in detail in the following paper (Plesner, I.W., Plesner, L., N?rby, J.G. and Klodos, I. (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 643, 483--494). (7) A refinement of the model, accounting for the effect of Na+ on the steady-state ratio between [E1P] and [E2P] is proposed: (formula: see text). At [Na+] = 150 mM as used here, E1P(Na) and E'1P are assumed to be in rapid equilibrium. (8) Comparison of our results with those of others underlines the general validity of the conclusions of the present paper.     

Ligand binding sites of the ouabain-complexed (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

To clarify the mechanism of inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by cardiac glycosides, we tried to see if ouabain binding alters the properties of the binding sites for Na+, K+, and ATP. Ouabain was bound in the presence of either Na+ + MgATP or MgPi. Ligand-induced changes in the rate of release of ouabain from the two resulting complexes were used as signals to determine the affinities, the numbers, and the interactions of the ligand binding sites. Because the two complexes showed differences in the properties of their ligand binding sites, and since neither complex could be converted to the other, it is concluded that either the enzyme has two dissimilar but mutually exclusive ouabain sites or that it can be frozen in two distinct conformations by ouabain. The following ligand sites were identified on the two complexes: 1) two coexisting ATP sites (K0.5 values, 0.1 and 2 mM) representing altered states of the catalytic and the regulatory sites of the native enzyme; 2) mutually exclusive Na+ and K+ sites whose affinities (K0.5 values, 1.3 mM Na+ and 0.1 mM K+) suggested their identities with the high affinity uptake sites of the native enzyme; and 3) coexisting low affinity Na+ and K+ sites (K0.5 values, 0.2-0.6 M) representing either the discharge sites, or the regulatory sites, or the access channels of the native enzyme. The data suggest that the inability of the ouabain-complexed enzyme to participate in the normal reaction cycle is not because of its lack of ligand binding sites but most likely due to ouabain-induced disruptions of interprotomer site-site interactions.